Modular cargo system for off-road vehicle

ABSTRACT

A modular cargo system for an off-road vehicle includes a triangular center case between a right side case and a left side case, each having a base attached downwardly to a platform on the vehicle while also defining a floor plane for resting on a flat floor surface. The side cases include non-parallel side walls, each defining an interior space large enough to hold a rider&#39;s helmet. Each case includes a handle on a hinged lid, enabling the side case to be carried with a single hand while the lid is closed. The hinge is on a leading side wall of the cases, latched on a trailing side wall of the cases, and clips to hold the side cases downward to the platform are on the trailing side walls.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 63/111,391 entitled MODULAR CARGO SYSTEM FOR OFF-ROADVEHICLE filed Nov. 9, 2020, incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to off-road vehicles, such as straddleall-terrain vehicles (“ATVs”), utility vehicles or side-by-sides. Suchvehicles are well known for travel over a wide variety of terrains,including over unpaved trails or fields, rocks, etc. Such vehicles arewidely used in agriculture and forestry operations, as well as in safetyoperations such as for rugged mountain crossings. Such vehicles are alsowidely used for recreational enjoyment in natural, outdoor settings awayfrom pavement.

In recent years, recreational enjoyment has sparked interest in usingoff-road vehicles for multi-hour or multi-day trips off pavement andwithout permanent shelter, on excursions sometimes referred to as“overlanding”. Overlanders commonly want to pack a considerable amountof gear for their trip, including tents, sleeping bags and other campingequipment, fishing tackle, hunting supplies, spare clothes and shoes andother gear. Many off-road vehicles include front and rear racks orplatforms with an open top surface to which gear can be strapped downsuch as using ties and/or bungie cords. Placement of gear onto suchracks or platforms typically leaves the gear (or at least the bagcontaining the gear) exposed to weather and elements such as mudsplashing while travelling. Placement of gear onto such racks orplatforms also allows others to see the attached gear, making theexpected use of the vehicle known to nosy neighbors and inviting theftof equipment.

Cargo and storage solutions which enclose gear used with off-roadvehicles are known, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,573,162,6,209,941, 7,128,341, 8,646,668, and 10,875,462. Such containers need tobe strong, robust and reliable over years or decades of use. Theconnection method for attaching an enclosed container to an off-roadvehicle needs to be foolproof and secure, ensuring that the containerand/or its contents does not become dislodged as the vehicle bouncesover hills, logs, rocks and bumps. Unfortunately, existing cargo andstorage solutions have failed to provide users with the utility desiredfor many applications. Better cargo and storage solutions, intended foroffroad vehicles and particularly for overlanding with an offroadvehicle, are needed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a cargo and storage solution particularlyappropriate for off-road vehicles, as well as a method ofusing/attaching such a modular cargo system to the off-road vehicle. Thesystem includes a right side case and a left side case, preferablymounted adjacent a center case. Each case has an enclosure defining aninterior space and an attached moveable lid, with the side cases beinglarge enough to hold a helmet of a rider of the offroad vehicle. In oneaspect, the side case enclosures have a base which is removably attacheddownwardly onto a platform of the offroad vehicle while also defining afloor plane of the enclosure allowing the enclosure to rest on a flatfloor surface when not attached to the offroad vehicle. In anotheraspect, each side case includes a handle, such as part of the lid,enabling the side case to be carried with a single hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ATV (shown in dashed lines) with thepreferred modular cargo system of the present invention mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the side-rear of the preferred modularcargo system of the present invention, also showing a portion of theunderlying platform.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the front of the modular cargo systemand underlying platform of FIGS. 1 and 2 .

FIG. 4 is a perspective view from below-rear, showing the underlyingplatform and modular cargo system of FIGS. 1-3 .

FIG. 5 is a plan view from above of the modular cargo system of FIGS.1-4 .

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the modular cargo system andunderlying platform of FIGS. 1-5 , with the size and location of ahelmet within a side case being shown in dashed lines.

FIG. 7 is a rear elevational view of the modular cargo system andunderlying platform of FIGS. 1-6 .

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the modular cargo system andunderlying platform of FIGS. 1-7 .

FIG. 9 is a perspective cross-sectional view, taken along cut line 9-9in FIG. 6 , to show the interiors of the three cases.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional plan view, taken along the same cut line9-9 in FIG. 6 , and showing the size and location of a helmet within aside case.

FIG. 11 is a rear elevational view of the modular cargo system of FIGS.1-10 from below.

While the above-identified drawing figures set forth a preferredembodiment, other embodiments of the present invention are alsocontemplated, some of which are noted in the discussion. In all cases,this disclosure presents the illustrated embodiments of the presentinvention by way of representation and not limitation. Numerous otherminor modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of thisinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first preferred embodiment of the modular cargo system 10 of thepresent invention is shown with reference to FIGS. 1-11 . As shown inFIG. 1 , the cargo system 10 is particularly intended to be mounted on arelatively flat platform 12 at the back of an ATV 14. While the offroadvehicle could alternatively be a utility vehicle or a side-by-sidevehicle, this ATV 14 includes a straddle-type seat 16 and handle bars 18for steering the front wheels 20, which are mounted for high suspensiontravel and high ground clearance (in the most preferred embodiment,about 12 in. (30 cm) of ground clearance). The vehicle 14 is powered byan internal combustion engine, with the most preferred ATV 14 includinga V-twin two cylinder engine of about 1000 cc displacement, putting outabout 75-80 horsepower (about 60 ft-lbs/80 NM of peak torque). Fuel isadded through the fuel filler cap 22 for the fuel tank. The ATV 14 rideson four wheels 20, 24 for stability, with low pressure, wide tires 26for gripping over sand, loose gravel, mud etc. With the straddle-typeseat 16, the vehicle 14 is relatively narrow, with the most preferredATV 14 having an about 58 in. (148 cm) wheelbase.

In this most preferred embodiment, the cargo system 10 of the presentinvention includes three storage cases: a left side case 28 entirely onone side of the vehicle 14, a right side case 30 entirely on the otherside of the vehicle 14, and a center case 32 which bridges the vehiclelongitudinal center line. The preferred left side case 28 and right sidecase 30 are mirror images of each other. The preferred center case 32 isnearly bilaterally symmetrical, except that one of the front cornersincludes a recess 34 to allow better access to the fuel cap 22 and toallow better clearance for fueling the vehicle 14. The three cases 28,30, 32 attach onto a flat rear platform 12 that generally establishes abase plane 36. As best shown in FIG. 4 , the rear platform 12 can be acomposite shelf attached to a steel rack frame 38 mountable by bolted(or welded) attachment to the frame of the vehicle 14 using attachmentmounts 40. As best seen in FIG. 6 , the base plane 36 need not beentirely horizontal, but instead will depend upon the platform 12 (orthe underlying floor), how the platform 12 attaches to the vehicle 14,and how level the ground is where the vehicle 14 is parked. In additionto extending over the rear platform 12, the center case 32 can extendforwardly and provide a padded rear back rest 42 for a single vehicledriver.

Each of the three cases 28, 30, 32 include a generally horizontal, flatbase 44, 46, 48, a generally horizontal (when closed), flat lid 50, 52,54, and generally vertical, planar side walls 56, 58, 60, 62, 64extending from each base 44, 46, 48 to its lid 50, 52, 54. As best seenin FIG. 11 , the bases 44, 46, 48 need not be entirely flat and may havesome contours to allow for better connection or clearance over the rearplatform 12, so long as there is sufficient surfaces to define the baseplane 36 so the side cases 28, 30 in particular can rest flat on a flatsurface. In the preferred construction, each base is jointly molded withits side walls into an enclosure 66, 68, 70, such as by blow molding orrotational molding. While the exterior height h of the most preferredside cases 28, 30 is about 13 in. (33 cm), the interior depth of theside case enclosures 66, 68 is about 10 in. (26 cm), i.e., 10-20% of theinterior size is preferably provided by upwardly recessing the inside ofthe lid 50, 52, 54.

The enclosures 66, 68, 70 are preferably formed of a polymer materialsuch as polyethylene (including high density polyethylene, or HDPE),polypropylene, polyvinylchloride (PVC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(ABS), or similarly rigid polymer materials. Each lid 50, 52, 54 is alsoprimarily made of a similar polymer material, but preferably includesone or more separate metal top plates 72, 74, 76, 78, which can beattached to its molded lid 50, 52, 54 using fasteners such as screws orrivets, or by adhesive or insert molding. To reduce the number of parts,the metal top plates 72, 74 for the side cases 28, 30 can be identicalto each other, with one flipped over prior to attachment to its lid 50,52. The metal top plates 72, 74, 76, 78 are not only rugged forprotection of the lids 50, 52, 54 from marring and scratches, but alsoinclude several cut outs or hook openings 80 for tie or bungie hookattachment. As examples, the enclosures 66, 68, 70 and the lids 50, 52,54 can have a polymer wall thickness of about 2-4 mm, and the top plates72, 74, 76, 78 can be stamped out of aluminum or stainless steel sheetmaterial, such as having a thickness in 1.5-3 mm thickness.

Each lid 50, 52, 54 is attached to a front wall 56, 64 of the side wallsvia a hinge 82. One or more latch mechanisms 84 are preferably includedon the rear wall 58 of each enclosure 66, 68, 70, moveable to secure thelid 50, 52, 54 closed. For instance, the preferred lids 50, 52, 54 arelatched closed with an elastic strap 86 that can be pulled around alatching knob 88 projecting outwardly from the rear wall 58. Acompressible seal (not shown) can be positioned between the lid 50, 52,54 and its enclosure 66, 68, 70. In the most preferred embodiment, eachcase 28, 30, 32 provides an IP54 rating, i.e., the contents are notsealed entirely dust free but are protected against all particulates of1 mm and larger and against most dust ingress, and the seal willwithstand splashing of water from any angle but may not withstandstrongly sprayed water or water immersion.

When desired, the center case 32 can be removed and replaced with apassenger seat (not shown), so a passenger can straddle the vehicle 14immediately behind the driver, perhaps using passenger footrests 90 andperhaps looking over the driver's shoulder. The shape of the center case32 is somewhat determined by the space needed for such a passenger seat,including a substantially triangular shape which is wider at the frontthan at the rear. The front end of the center case 32 can preferably besecured with the same mounting system 92 as utilized by the removeablepassenger seat, or alternatively a removable platform portion could beprovided under a portion of the center case, for attachment after thepassenger seat has be removed but prior to attaching the center casedown. The rear end of the center case 32 can preferably be secured withone or more accessory attachment devices 94, such as disclosed in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 17/332,676, incorporated by reference, whichcooperate with openings in the platform 12. These devices 94 haves anattachment mechanism control handle 96 accessible by hand only throughthe access opening defined by the lid 54. Hand movement of theattachment mechanism control handles 96 in one direction tightens thecenter case base 48 downwardly onto the platform 12 of the ATV 14, andhand movement of the attachment mechanism control handles 96 in anopposing direction allows detachment of the center case base 48 from theplatform 12 of the ATV 14. Positioning the accessory attachment devices94 so they attach downward from inside the center case 32 provides anattachment that is concealed, but can also requiring emptying of some orall of the contents of the center case 32 before attaching or removingthe center case 32 from the vehicle 14.

The side cases 28, 30 have a size and shape which is beneficial foroverlanding, when considering that the side cases 28, 30 are likely tohold different contents at different times, even during the same trip.In particular, the side cases 28, 30 are designed to a) allow for quickremoval from the ATV 14, useful when contents (such as clothing) arebeing packed or unpacked (such as in a bedroom) into the side casebefore the trip (such as in a tent), once at a destination, or after atrip; b) be able to be set down with the base 44, 46 on a flat floorsurface with the side walls standing upright and the lid 50, 52 at thetop; c) be carried using a single hand; d) be quickly securable to theATV 14 to maintain the contents generally dust, splash andprecipitation-protected and still secure while the ATV 14 is beingdriven to or from the destination; and e) when the side cases 28, 30have been partially or fully unpacked at a destination, have sufficientsize to hold the gear that was used during riding to the destination,most importantly a helmet 98 such as during an overnight stop. Manyprior art side cases fail to consider storage of riding gear including ahelmet 98 once at the destination, and are too small or the wrong shapeto hold a helmet 98, and therefore fail to achieve this importantbenefit. While helmets come in many shapes and sizes, a minimum size forthe smallest helmets can be considered a size sufficient to hold an 8in. (20 cm) diameter sphere. A more typical helmet size, such as thehelmet 98 shown in dashed lines in FIGS. 6 and 10 , would be oblong,with a width of about 10 in. (26 cm), a height of about 10 in. (26 cm),and a length of about 13 in. (32 cm). Many other prior art side cases,such as panniers of a motorcycle, do not have a base intended to allowthe pannier to stand upright when placed on the floor, or, even if theydo, still have the mechanism for attachment to the vehicle being throughthe sidewall of the pannier rather than through the base.

To ensure that the side case interiors can be sufficiently sized to eachhold a helmet 98, but still allow attachment in the available space onopposing sides of the ATV 14 and while allowing the option of a secondstraddle rider, the bases 44, 46 and lids 50, 52 of the preferred sidecases 28, 30 are not rectangular, but instead the preferred side cases28, 30 have a fairly distinct and unusual planview shape. The preferredshapes are perhaps best shown in FIG. 10 showing how a helmet 98 fits inone of the side cases 30. The outer side wall 58 of each side case 28,30 extends nearly parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle14. For example, the distance between the outer side walls 58 of the twoside cases 28, 30, which defines the width w of the modular cargo system10, may be about 80% of the vehicle's wheel base, such as a width w ofthe modular cargo system 10 being about 46 in. (116 cm) for an ATV 14with a 58 in. (148 cm) wheelbase. Each side case 28, 30 is relativelynarrow at its leading side wall 56, thereby providing more room for thesecond rider on the occasions when the center case 32 is replaced with arider's seat. For instance, the preferred center case 32 has an overallcenter case width w_(c) of about 27 in. (68 cm), and the leading sidewalls 56 of the side cases 28, 30 have an exterior width w_(ls) of onlyabout 7-8 in. (18-20 cm). With a typical motorcycle helmet 98 beingabout 10 in (26 cm) wide, the front of each side case enclosure 66, 68,70 is too narrow to accommodate a helmet 98. Instead of being parallelto the outer side wall 58, the inner side wall 60 extends at asignificant angle θ, greater than 10°, to the longitudinal direction.For instance, the preferred angle θ of the inner side wall 60 is about23°. The angle θ of the inner side wall 60 causes the side case 28, 30to widen out to a center section used for holding the helmet 98 towardthe back of the side case enclosure 66, 68, 70. At the trailing edge ofthe outer side wall 58, the side case 28, 30 has a width w_(ls) which is150% or more than the leading side wall width w_(ls), such as a widthw_(ls) of about 16 in. (40 cm). In other words, though the interiorwidth at the leading side wall 56 of the side cases 28, 30 is too narrowto hold a helmet 98, the interior width at the trailing side wall 62 ofthe side cases 28, 30 is amply wide to hold a helmet 98. The length 1 ofthe side cases 28, 30 usable for holding the helmet 98 (i.e., measuredfrom the midpoint of the leading side wall 56 to the midpoint of thetrailing side wall 62) is about 21 in. (53 cm).

The lid 50, 52, 54 is hinged to the leading side wall 56, so whenpivoted about the hinge, the lid 50, 52, 54 is fully out of the way andallows unrestricted access for placing a helmet 98 or other gear intothe back of the interior space. This hinge location also allows bestloading and unloading of cargo and gear into all three cases 28, 30, 32(such as selecting which case 28, 30, 32 to place each piece of gearinto) when the user is standing behind the vehicle 14. The securinglatch or latches 84 for the lids 50, 52, 54 are located on the trailingside wall 62.

The access opening or mouth of the enclosure 66, 68 (defined by thelocation where the side walls 56, 58, 60, 62 meet the lid 50, 52) ispreferably larger in planview than the typical helmet 98 so the helmet98 can be placed into the enclosure 66, 68 by vertically lowering thehelmet 98 into place. Alternatively the mouth can be slightly smaller inlength than the interior length at a midheight elevation of theenclosure 66, 68, requiring one end of the helmet 98 to be lowered intoplace and pushed against the sidewalls before lowering the other end ofthe helmet 98 through the mouth.

The trailing side wall 62 of the side cases 28, 30 can be at an angle αrelative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 14, such as at anangle α of about 67°. This angling creates an open space at the inside,rear of the enclosure 66, 68 which is very useful for the user toposition his or her hand under the bottom of the helmet 98 when takingthe helmet 98 out of the enclosure 66, 68. In other words, the size andshape of the enclosure 66, 68 should be large enough not only to storethe helmet 98 within the enclosure 66, 68, but also allow for easy handremoval of the helmet 98 from the enclosure 66, 68 against the weight ofgravity. With the most preferred size and shapes of the side cases 28,30, each side case 28, 30 encloses a volume of about 52 liters. The mostpreferred center case 32 provides an additional volume of about 41liters, for a total case storage volume of about 146 liters.

Each case 28, 30, 32 includes a handle 100, 102 allowing the case to becarried by a single hand. The preferred lids 50, 52 for the side cases28, 30 include a recess 104 for the handle 100, so the handle 100remains below the plane of the top plate 72, 74, making it easier tostack additional gear on top of the top plate 72, 74. Because the sidecases 28, 30 are longer than they are wide, the preferred handles 100 inthe side cases 28, 30 extend primarily in the longitudinal direction. Incontrast, with the more triangular and wider shape of the preferredcenter case 32, the center case handle 102 extends primarily in thetransverse direction. The center case handle 102 can be provided quitefar forward on the center case 32 relative to its top surface, includinglocating the center case handle 102 further forward than either sidecase handle 100. This far-forward center case handle location isparticularly in situations where the center case 32 includes a forwardsection 106 dropping down below the platform height 36 and in situationswhere the center case 32 includes a backrest pad 42. Both the backrestpad 42 and the forward section 106 help to balance the weight of thecenter case 32 when it is being carried with the far-forward handle 102.At this far forward location, the center case handle 102 need not berecessed below the top plate 76, but instead can extend above the centercase top plate 76 and provide a forward fence for the center case topplate 76, helping to keep gear strapped to the center case top plate 76from pressing into the back of the driver such as during braking thevehicle.

Each of the three cases 28, 30, 32 are removable and attachable througha quick-attach system incorporated into the case 28, 30, 32. As was donefor the center case 32, accessory attachment devices such as disclosedin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/332,676 could be used for theside cases 28, 30. More preferably, the side cases 28, 30 include clips108 with a clip handle 110 mounted on one of the exposed side walls 56,58, 62, most preferably on the rear side wall 62. Movement of the cliphandle 110 in one direction tightens the base 44, 46, 48 downwardly ontothe platform 12, and movement of the clip handle 110 in an opposingdirection allows detachment of the base 44, 46, 48 from the platform 12.With the clips 108 being exposed, the side cases 28, 30 can be quicklyremoved or attached to the platform 12 without requiring opening of thelid 50, 52 and regardless of whether the side case enclosures 66, 68 areempty or full. The clips 108 should either not hang down below the baseplane 36 at all, or should be easily moveable to entirely above the baseplane 36, so each side case 28, 30 can be placed on a flat floor surfacewithout interference from the clips 108. In general usage, the sidecases 28, 30 will be removed, carried and attached much more frequently(i.e., probably both before and after each overlanding trip, and whileat each overlanding destination), whereas the center case 32 (which maynot rest as flatly on the floor) will only be removed on occasions whenit is replaced with the passenger seat. To attach each side case 28, 30to the platform 12, the user merely places the side case 28, 30 upon theplatform area generally in position against the center case 32, and thenmoves the clip handle 110 to the closed position by hand to secure theenclosure 66, 68 to the platform 12.

If desired, security features such as locks (not shown) for the latches84 and for the clips 108 can be added as desired, for either locking thelids 50, 52, 54 to the enclosures 66, 68, 70 or for locking the sidecases 28, 30 to the ATV 14. The latches 84 and the clips 108 can also beplaced sufficiently close to one another that a single external padlock(not shown) could be used for both locking the lid 50, 52 closed andlocking the side case 28, 30 to the ATV 14.

Although the present invention has been described with reference topreferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. In particular, all of the dimensions andmaterials, unless included in the claims, are exemplary only.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A modular cargo system for an offroadvehicle comprising: a first side case, the first side case having afirst enclosure defining a first interior space, the first interiorspace being large enough to hold a first helmet of a rider of theoffroad vehicle, the first enclosure being adapted to be removablyattached to the offroad vehicle entirely on a first side of alongitudinal centerline of the offroad vehicle; and a first lid movablyconnected to the first enclosure and sealing the first enclosure in aclosed position, the first lid being moveable to provide an accessopening to the first enclosure; a second side case, the second side casehaving a second enclosure defining a second interior space, the secondinterior space being large enough to hold a second helmet of a rider ofthe offroad vehicle, the second enclosure being adapted to be removablyattached to the offroad vehicle entirely on a second side of thelongitudinal centerline of the offroad vehicle opposite the first side;and a second lid movably connected to the second enclosure and sealingthe second enclosure in a closed position, the second lid being moveableto provide an access opening to the second enclosure; and a center case,the center case having a center enclosure defining a center interiorspace, the center enclosure being adapted to be removably attached tothe offroad vehicle bridging the longitudinal centerline of the offroadvehicle; and a center lid movably connected to the center enclosure andsealing the center enclosure in a closed position, the center lid beingmoveable to provide an access opening to the center enclosure.
 2. Themodular cargo system of claim 1, wherein the first enclosure is rigidwith two generally planar side walls defining a shape wider toward arear of the first enclosure than toward a front of the first enclosure,wherein the second enclosure is rigid with two generally planar sidewalls defining a shape wider toward a rear of the second enclosure thantoward a front of the second enclosure, and wherein the center enclosureis rigid with two generally planar side walls defining a shape widertoward a front of the center enclosure than toward a rear of the centerenclosure.
 3. The modular cargo system of claim 1, wherein a 20 cmdiameter sphere can fit within the first enclosure with the first lid inthe closed position, and wherein a 20 cm diameter sphere can fit withinthe second enclosure with the second lid in the closed position.
 4. Themodular cargo system of claim 1, wherein the first lid hinges to thefirst enclosure at a front side of the first enclosure, wherein thesecond lid hinges to the second enclosure at a front side of the secondenclosure, and wherein the center lid hinges to the center enclosure ata front side of the center enclosure.
 5. The modular cargo system ofclaim 1, wherein the first enclosure is molded out of a polymer, whereinthe second enclosure is molded out of a polymer, wherein the centerenclosure is molded out of a polymer, wherein the first lid comprises afirst metal top plate which extends generally horizontally when thefirst enclosure is attached to the offroad vehicle with the first lid inthe closed position, wherein the second lid comprises a second metal topplate which extends generally horizontally when the second enclosure isattached to the offroad vehicle with the second lid in the closedposition, wherein the center lid comprises a center metal top platewhich extends generally horizontally when the center enclosure isattached to the offroad vehicle with the center lid in the closedposition.
 6. The modular cargo system of claim 5, wherein each of thefirst metal top plate, the second metal top plate and the center metaltop plate comprise hook openings therethrough.
 7. The modular cargosystem of claim 1, wherein the first side case comprises a first sidecase handle for holding the first side case with a single hand when thefirst side case is detached from the offroad vehicle, wherein the secondside case comprises a second side case handle for holding the secondside case with a single hand when the second side case is detached fromthe offroad vehicle, and wherein the center case comprises a center casehandle for holding the center case with a single hand when the centercase is detached from the offroad vehicle.
 8. The modular cargo systemof claim 7, wherein the first side case handle extends generallylongitudinally when the first enclosure is attached to the offroadvehicle with the first lid in the closed position, wherein the secondside case handle extends generally longitudinally when the secondenclosure is attached to the offroad vehicle with the second lid in theclosed position, and wherein the center case handle extends generallytransversely when the center enclosure is attached to the offroadvehicle with the center lid in the closed position.
 9. The modular cargosystem of claim 7, wherein the first side case handle is on the firstlid, wherein the second side case handle is on the second lid, andwherein the center case handle is on the center lid.
 10. The modularcargo system of claim 7, wherein, when the first side case, the secondside case and the center case are each attached to the offroad vehiclewith the first lid, the second lid and the center lid all in theirclosed position, the center case handle is further forward than eitherthe first side case handle or the second side case handle.
 11. Themodular cargo system of claim 1, wherein the center case comprises abackrest pad for a rider of the offroad vehicle.
 12. The modular cargosystem of claim 1, wherein the first enclosure and the second enclosureeach comprise: a base adapted to be removably attached downwardly ontothe offroad vehicle; and side walls extending upwardly and generallyperpendicularly relative to the base, with the side walls defining theaccess opening; wherein the base defines a floor plane of the enclosureallowing the enclosure to rest on a flat floor surface when not attachedto the offroad vehicle.
 13. The modular cargo system of claim 1, whereinthe center case comprises a recess for access to a fuel tank filllocation on the offroad vehicle.
 14. The modular cargo system of claim1, wherein at least one of the first side case, the second side case andthe center case comprise an attachment mechanism extending through abase, the attachment mechanism having an attachment mechanism controlhandle accessible by hand only through the access opening, wherein handmovement of the attachment mechanism control handle in one directiontightens the base downwardly onto the offroad vehicle, and hand movementof the attachment mechanism control handle in an opposing directionallows detachment of the base from the offroad vehicle.
 15. The modularcargo system of claim 1, further comprising: a first moveable latch onthe first side case for securing the first lid in the closed position; asecond moveable latch on the second side case for securing the secondlid in the closed position; and a third moveable latch on the centercase for securing the center lid in the closed position.
 16. A modularcargo system for an offroad vehicle comprising: a first side case, thefirst side case having a first enclosure rigidly defining a firstinterior space, the first enclosure being adapted to be removablyattached to the offroad vehicle entirely on a first side of alongitudinal centerline of the offroad vehicle; and a first lid movablyconnected to the first enclosure and sealing the first enclosure in aclosed position, the first lid being moveable to provide an accessopening to the first enclosure; and a second side case, the second sidecase having a second enclosure rigidly defining a second interior space,the second enclosure being adapted to be removably attached to theoffroad vehicle entirely on a second side of the longitudinal centerlineof the offroad vehicle opposite the first side; and a second lid movablyconnected to the second enclosure and sealing the second enclosure in aclosed position, the second lid being moveable to provide an accessopening to the second enclosure; wherein the first enclosure and thesecond enclosure each comprise: a base adapted to be removably attacheddownwardly onto the offroad vehicle; and side walls extending upwardlyand generally perpendicularly relative to the base, with the side wallsdefining the access opening; wherein the base defines a floor plane ofthe enclosure allowing the enclosure to rest on a flat floor surfacewhen not attached to the offroad vehicle.
 17. The modular cargo systemof claim 16, wherein the first interior space and the second interiorspace are each large enough to hold a helmet of a rider of the offroadvehicle.
 18. The modular cargo system of claim 16, wherein the firstenclosure and the second enclosure each comprise at least one clip witha clip handle mounted on the side wall of that enclosure, whereinmovement of the clip handle in one direction tightens the basedownwardly onto the offroad vehicle, and movement of the clip handle inan opposing direction allows detachment of the base from the offroadvehicle.
 19. The modular cargo system of claim 16, wherein the base ofeach of the first and second enclosures is not rectangular.
 20. A methodof quick attachment of a modular cargo system to an offroad vehicle,comprising: simultaneously carrying a first case by only a right handand a second case by only a left hand, the first case having a firstenclosure rigidly defining a first interior space, the first interiorspace being large enough to hold a first helmet of a rider of theoffroad vehicle, the first enclosure being adapted to be removablyattached to the offroad vehicle; a first lid movably connected to thefirst enclosure and sealing the first enclosure in a closed position,the first lid being moveable to provide an access opening to the firstenclosure; and a first case handle; the second case having a secondenclosure rigidly defining a second interior space, the second interiorspace being large enough to hold a second helmet of a rider of theoffroad vehicle, the second enclosure being adapted to be removablyattached to the offroad vehicle; a second lid movably connected to thesecond enclosure and sealing the second enclosure in a closed position,the second lid being moveable to provide an access opening to the secondenclosure; and a second case handle; wherein the first enclosure and thesecond enclosure each comprise: a base adapted to be removably attacheddownwardly onto the offroad vehicle; side walls extending upwardly andgenerally perpendicularly relative to the base, with the side wallsdefining the access opening; and at least one clip with a clip handlemounted on the side wall of that enclosure; wherein the base defines afloor plane of the enclosure allowing the enclosure to rest on a flatfloor surface when not attached to the offroad vehicle; placing the baseof the first enclosure onto a first platform area of the offroadvehicle; moving the clip handle of the first enclosure by hand to securethe first enclosure to the first platform area; placing the base of thesecond enclosure onto a second platform area of the offroad vehicle;moving the clip handle of the second enclosure by hand to secure thesecond enclosure to the second platform area.
 21. The method of claim20, wherein the first case further comprises a first hinge connectingthe first lid to the first enclosure, with the first enclosure beingsecured to the first platform area with the first hinge toward a frontof the offroad vehicle; and wherein the second case further comprises asecond hinge connecting the second lid to the second enclosure, with thesecond enclosure being secured to the second platform area with thesecond hinge toward the front of the offroad vehicle.